2020 Day 291

 2020 Dedh Dew Cans Pajar Ügens hag Üdnek 

De Sadorn, seytegves mis Hedra

Saturday, 17th October

Ma cân wheg nowydh gen Gwenno: “Eus Keus?” Rîm pur goth ew hebma (Wella Pryce).

Eus keus? Eus po nag eus?

Mars eus keus, dro keus.

Po nag eus keus, dro peth eus.

Ma Gwenno ow tisqwedhes benyn a Oos an Tewdars avel Pagan (martesen Drewydh) gens offryn a geus dhe’n duwyow.  Saw pandr’ew les keus dhe Gernow? Ma gwreoryon keus en Kernow lebmyn. Ew da genowgh an keus ma – maylys en delkyow linas? Meurgerys ewa. Bes nanj ew lies bledhen thera othom a wil keus en hav drefen nag era yeyners. Rag fra nag o an leth er gwerrys (gwerthys)? An rêson o an patron gonisegeth. An bûhes o kemerys en aga havregow dres an misyow tòbm. Mosy an dre a drigas en crowyow ha gwitha an bestes, godra an bûhes ha deves, ha gwil keus (ha obery gen gwlân). An gwels e’n prasow ogas dhe’n dre alja bos ûsyes rag gwil gora rag gwav. “En hav per co gwav.” Ha’n düs alja gonis trevajow erel. Movyans an bestes o caws rag an degolyow Keltek (Beltane ha Samhain) Cala Me ha Du Halan Gwav.

There is a sweet new song by Gwenno: “Is there any cheese?” This is a very old rhyme (William Pryce).

Is there any cheese? Is there or isn’t there?

If there is cheese, bring cheese.

If there isn’t any cheese, bring what there is.

Gwenno shows a Tudor woman as a Pagan (perhaps a Druid) with a sacrifice of cheese to the gods. But what is the importance of cheese to Cornwall? There are cheese-makers in Cornwall now. Do you like this cheese – wrapped in nettle leaves. It is popular. But many years ago it was necessary to make cheese in summer because there weren’t any refrigerators. Why wasn’t the fresh milk sold? The reason was the pattern of agriculture. The cows were taken into their summer pastures through the hot months. The village girls stayed in huts, looked after the animals, milked the cows and ewes and made cheese.  The grass in the fields near the village could be used to make hay for the winter. “In summer remember winter.” And the men could grow other crops. The movement of the animals was a cause for the Celtic festivals (Beltane and Samhain), May Day and Allantide.

 

Deg ger rag hedhyw: Ten words for today

crow (m) hut

drewydh (m) druid  

godra to milk

gwlân (m) wool

gwreoryon (pl.) makers < gwrear (m)

havregow (pl.) summer pastures, shielings < havrak (m)

leth er (m) fresh milk

linas (collective) nettles

offryn (m) offering, sacrifice

Oos an Tewdars Tudor, age of the Tudors

yeyners (m) fridge, refrigerator